Transfer sheet control for billing machines



Aug. 14, 1934. F. FERGUSON TRANSFER SHEET CONTROL FOR BILLING MACHINES 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed Dec. 11. 1931 INVENTOR. 1 7250 D. fTEQcUso/\ M, flu/ww %a A TTORNEYS.

Aug. 14, 1934. D. FERGLVJSON 1,970,446

TRANSFER SHEET CONTROL FOR BILLING MACHINES Filed Dec. 11, 1931' 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 32 INVENTOLV F'aao D. F'seausqrv,

By M @wwa/ ATTORNEYS.

Patented Aug. 14,

UNITED" STATES PATENT OFFICE TRANSFER SHEET CONTROE FOR BILLING l MACHINES Fred D. Ferguson, Portland, Maine, assignor to American Sales Book Company, Limited, To-

-onto, tax-io, Canada Ontario, Canada, a corperation of On- Application December '1931, Serial No. 580,382 claims. (Cl. 197-126) g more particularly to improvements for support-- ing and controlling the transfer or carbon strips in writing machines of the class mentioned.

It 'is a general Object of the invention'to provide i'or writing machines and more especially those 'of the flat platen type an improved transfer strip supporting and controlling arrangement which may he readily applied to machines `of this type and which is simple in structure and effective in operation to control and support the transfer strips in correct writing position in transfer relation with the record strips or work webs. v

According to another feature of the invention, an improved transfer strip supporting arrangement is provided for machines of the class menjust one of the transfer strip courses to bring fresh transfer material into transfer relation with the record strips without disturbing the other course, or courses, of transfer strips.

A further Object of the invention is to provide an improved transfer strip supporting arrangement for writing machines of the class mentioned Wherein the transfer strip support is conveniently supported at the side of the machine and mounted,

in position to be adjusted from its normaloperative position into a position wherein the transfer strip supply' may be renewed or adjusted.

Another Object of the invention is to provide an red laterally of the writing machlne and having an improved adjustable support for maintaining the spindle in operative position and also permitting it to be swung away from its operative position. V

According to another feature of the invention, the transfer sheet supporting spindles are arranged to carry transfer strip supply spools* i'itu-es of construction, combinatons -of elements ticned wherein separate courses of transfer strip, may be separately and independently adjustedo In this manner it is a very simple matter to ad-=' shown in the illustrative embodiment, the mainproved mounting for a transfer strip spindle arand arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinaftr. set forth and* the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the claims.

For a more complete understanding of the oh.- jects and nature of the invention, reference is had to the following detailed description of the illus- -trative embodiment and to 'the accompanying drawings* in'which g s V Fig. 1 is a frentary, partially diagrammatic side elevation of a writing machine of the flat platen type n w the invention, parts being broken away and shown in section.

Fig. 2 is a front end elevation of Fig. 1. A

Fig. 3 is an gedelevation of one of the transfer strip spindles or sopporta.,

Fig. 4 is a detail elevation of one of the spindle' supporting hrachets. V

Fig. 5 is a similar elevation of another spindle supporting bracket, d x

Fig. 6 isa detailed Perspective assembly view of the supporting hrackets and transfer strip supporting spindle.

Since, the improved transfer sheet control is well adapted for typewriting or billing machines of the flat pla it is herein disclosed in connection with such a machina, although it will he understand that it may be advantageously applied to other types .of manifolding machines. As

chine has a hed -or supporting frame 10 conveniently mounted upon a pedestal 11 which may be provided with supporting legs or feet for resting upon the floor in a well known manner. The supporting frame may, as shown, include longitudinal side frame members 12 and transverse or crom frame members extending between the side' frame members, one of which is shown at. 18. Longitudinal supporting rails 14 are carried by the frame and may be attached to the mpe'nparts of the side frame members 12 es showL- These supporting rails may also be provided with langi tudinal rack bars 15 'and are adapted to support a typewriting machine (not shown) mounted for movement therealong and having toothed wheels. 100 inengagementwith therackbarainawelllmown 1 manner. As well understood by thm skiled in the art the typewrlting machine is movable back' and forth longitudinally of the supporting frame in line spacing direction, and is provided with a 105 .table 16 mounted in any convenient manne:- for able up and down and is shown as being maintained in its normal operative position by means of a compression spring 18 and may be moved downwardly from operative position by means of i a foot pedal 19 mounted in any convenient manner upon the pedestal 11 and connected to the platen by means of a link 20. With this arrangement the operator can easily depress the platen. \r As shown in Fig. 2 the longitudinal edges of the platen underlie the supporting rails 14 thus providing a gripping arrangement whereby the carbon or transfer strips and also the record strips may be gripped between the edges of the platen and the under surfaces of the supporting rails. These rails thus provide longitudinal gripping bars for securing the strips' in position when the platen is elevated by the action of the compression spring 18. The record strips or work webs S used are preferably of the long, continuous traveller type which may have printed forms arranged in a series therealong and these forms may be separated or segregated from each other by transverse lines of weakening as by perforating in a well known manner whereby the forms after inscription may be readily severedfrom the supply. These record strips are conveniently led from a supply such as the zigzag folded supply pack S' supported in any convenient manner near or adjacent to the machine. These strips are led forwardly from the supply over suitable guides (not shown) to the supporting frame 10 and over the top surface of the platen 16 to writing position thereon. There may be one or more transverse strip supporting bars or plates, one of which is shown at 21 supported by the cross member 13 and having a fiange or part overlying the platen 16. The record strips therefore may pass beneath the clamping bar or plate 21 which thus functions to clamp the strips against the platen when the latter is moved upwardly into normal position by action of the spring 18. These transverse clamping bars therefore will serve to clamp the record strips in operative position upon the platen even though said strips are not wide enough so that the longitudinal edges thereof lie beneath the longitudinal clamping bars or rails 14, a condition very often met in practice. The transverse clamping bars 21 then form the principal supporting means for retaining the record strips in their correct position upon the platen during the writing operation.

As clearly'shown in Figs. 1 and 2`the carbon or transfer strips C are supported for move- 'ment transversely of the frame 10 over the upper surface of the platen 16. It will be understood that these transfer strips are interleaved in transfer relation with the record strips over the platen so that inscrip tions made by the typewriting machine upon the upper record strip will V be 'transferred by the carbon material to the lower record strips. t

For supporting and controlling these transfer strips an improved arrangement is provided, being mounted upon the supporting frame 10 at opposite sides thereof. Since this supporting arrangement is substantially duplicated at both sides of the machine a detailed description of one will be sufficient.

supporting brackets 22 and 23 are attached to each side frame member 12 preferably as shown extending outwardly and downwardly therefrom. Each supporting bracket for convenient attachment to the side frame members is formed at its upper extremity with a seat 24 in which the frame member is received and a set screw is arranged to engage against the frame member 12 whereby the bracket may be firmly secured in operative position. Also by means of this arrangement the brackets may be installed upon existing machines with very little labor and without any material alteration of the machine.

Transfer strip supporting spindles 26 are rotatably supported by the supporting brackets 22 and 23 which are suitably longitudinally spaced for the accommodation of the spindles. These spindles thus extend longitudinally of the machine and substantially parallel to the frame members 12 sothat the transfer strips C wound upon' said spindles are in a position to extend transversely of the platen. Each spindle may be provided with a knob 27 for manual rotation or adiustment thereof.

Although there may be a separate spool mounted upon each spindle 26, fixed for rotation therewith for supporting the transfer strips, such spool or transfer strip support may be constituted by flanges or disks 28 having square apertures for receiving the squared shank of the spindle and ancho-red in position by means of set screws. With this arrangement the spindle itself provides the core of the transfer strip support or spool. The transfer strip supply is thus wound upon the spindle or supporting spool between the flanges 28. One or a plurality of transfer strips may thus be wound upon each supporting spool constituting the supply from which the strips are led forwardly into manifolding position upon the platen. As shown the length of the spindles and the longitudinal spacing of the brackets 22 and 23 may be considerably greater than the Width of the carbon strips so that said strips may be adjusted to different longitudinal transfer positions along the platen 16 merely by adjusting the flanges 28 or supporting spools along the spindles. Also, if desired the spacing of the flanges 28 may be adjusted for the accommodation of transfer strips of different Width.

As best shown in Figs. 5 and 6 the supporting bracket 22 is 'constructed for supporting the spindles 26 for adjustment. bracket 22 is formed With slots 29 Opening through' its upper edge and providing seats for the reception of spindle supporting blocks 30. Each supporting block 30 is pivotally mounted upon the supporting bracket on an axis extending longitudinally of the latter. For convenient accomplishment of this purpose the bracket is formed with a longitudinal slot 31 intersecting the seats 29 and a pivot rod 32 is anchored in position in this slot by means of set screws 33. The pivot rod 32 extends through openings in the supporting blocks 30 whereby each block may be swung upo-n the rod 32 as an axis.

Each supporting block 30 has a cylindrical spindle supporting seat or bearing 34 in which the cylindrical supporting end 35 is jqurnalled. Each block also has a longitudinal slot 36 and a thumb screw 37 spans the slot intersecting the To this end the.

seat 34. The screw 37 has a shank passing loosely through the fork or part of the block adjacent to the head of the 'screw and is threaded only to the opposite fork of the block. The screw is also provided with a shoulder.38 positioned for contact with the outer face of the block. By means of this `arrangement the bearing 34 may be closed or opened slightly by turning ofthe screw 37. By tightening the screw the spindle bearing 35 may be gripped to form a friction brake or resistance to rotation of ,the spindle, or it may be tightened suiliciently to efiectively 'hold the spindle against rotation.

with the spindle bearing shank 40. A tensioned spring 43 'is connected to each retaining member 41 thus retaining its contact sui-face in engagement with a pe''ipheral groove 44.0f the' spindle shank 40 to retain the latter in position. Each A latch 41 preferablyprojects slightly beyond the adjacent upper edge of, the bracket 23 orning an operating handle for the latch and alsoa guide for guiding the spindle into position in the seat 39. As shown the latches 41 are conveniently pivotally mounted within recesses formed in the bracket 23.

the transfer strip supports are arranged at .opposite sides of the machine. One set of transer strip supports or spindles will carry the supply of transfer strips which are wound upon the respective spools* or spindles. The transfer strips will then be lead from each supply over the writing platen 16 and' their free ends wound upon the spools or spindles at the opposite side. As the transfer material becomes depleted .on any of the transfer strips, said strips may be adjusted by turning the receiving spindles to bring fresh transfer material into transfer position. By means of this arrangement it will be observed v that one course of transfer strip may be adjus'ted independently of the'other courses since each course extending across the platen is arranged and supported upon a separate pair of spindles, a' supply spindle at one side and a receiving spindle at the other side. v

Although three separate transfer strip supports for supporting three separate courses of transfer material are herein shown, it will be understood that the number may be varied as desired to accommodate the particular class of work in hand. It will be understood that one or a plurality of transfer strips may be supported upon each supply spool; in other words multiply supply rolls of transfer material may be employed if desired so that there will be more than one transfe' strip in one or more of the courses. By means of this arrangement fresh transfer material can be maintained in each course so as to assure clear legible copies at all times. Also a saving in transfer material may be eflected because the courses may be independently adjusted thus bringing fresh material into position only where needed. Since the top course ordinarily becomes depleted before the lower courses its consumption will be more rapid than the others.

It will be noticed that the courses of transfer stripspass beneath the longitudinal members 14;-

and between the latter and the' upper surface of the platen, being thus gripped and maintained in position when the platen is elevated in its normal position. When it is desired to adjust any one of the transter strip courses the pedal 19 will be depressed lowering the platen and releasing the grip whereupon the spindle may be readily adiusted by means of the knob 27.

- When it becomes desirable to adjust the transfer .strips on either the supply or receiving spools, or to replenish the supply, it will be seen that any spindle can be swung upwardly and outwardly upon its pivotal support into position wherein it is readily accessible. To do this, it is only neces- A sary to release the latch 41 whereupon the spin-r dle may be swung upwardly by virtue of its pivotal supporting block 30. Because of the fact that the pivotal mounting member 32 inclines outwardly and downwardly as described, the supporting spindles when swung upwardly will in- After tion contacting with the projecting end of the latch 41 causing the latter to retract and being thus guided into its supporting seat 39. It will be clear that the transfer strips may lead to or from theunder sides of the spools rather than from-the more readily independently accessible.

since certain ces may be made in the' above construction and difl'erent embodiments of the invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in' the accompanylng 'drawings, shall be interpreted as iilust-ative and not in a limiting* sense. i

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: 1. In a writing machine, in combination, a flat platen for supporting record strips in writing position, a plurality 'of .separate transfer strip supports positioned at opposite edges of said fiat platen so as tosupport adjacent to each of said opposite edges separate courses of transfer strips transversely of the platen in transfer relation .with the record strips, there being one said transfer strip support for each said course at each lateral platen edge, means whereby said transfer sheet supports for one said course may be operated independently of the other said supports for adjustment of one of the transfer strip courses independently of the others, supporting brackets attached at opposite sides of the machine, a supporting spindle for each of said transfer strip supports carried by said brack'ets and a supporting block for each spindle having an in- -clined pivotal mounting to one of said brackets Q upper sides as' shown, thus rendering each spool From the foregoing it will be understood that and to which the respective spindle is attached,

lateral platen edge; means whereby said transfer sheet supports for one said course may be operated independently of the other said supparts for adjustment of one of, the transfer strip courses independently of the others, supporting brackets attached at opposite sides of the machin and inclining outwardly and downwardly and one of said brackets having upwardly and outwardly inclined slots in its upper edge, a supporting spindle for each said transfer strip support and -a supporting block for each spindle having an inclined pivotal mounting in each of said slots and to which the spindle is attached, whereby each spindle may be individually swung from operable position into outwardly inclined loading or adjusting position.

3. A transfer sheet support for writing machines including, in combnation, a supporting bracket attaohed to the machine and having a plurality of slots Opening into an edge thereof, a plurality of transfer strip supporting 'spindles each having a mounting piece positioned in one of said slots and a common pivot member detachably connected to said bracket and providing a pivot-al mounting for each of said supporting spindles.

4. A transfer sheet support for writing machines including, in combination, a supporting bracket attached to the machina and having a plurality of slots Opening into an edge thereof,

therefrom, one of said brackets having a. p1u-- -rality of upwardly *and outwardly inclined slots in its upper inclined edge, a supporting block in each of said slots pivotally mounted on an outwardly 'and downwardly inclined axis, a transfer 'sheet supporting spindle connected to each of said pivoted blocks so as to swing between operative and inoperative positions, another of said longitudinally spaced brackets having -a plurality of bearing seats for supporting the spindles opposite to said supporting blocks, and a spindle retaining device for each of said bearing seats.

FEED D. FERGUSON. 

